Eagles must choose what to do with coach Nick Sirianni and the rest of his staff after a catastrophic collapse.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A coach like Nick Sirianni would be a great supporter of the Eagles.
After the Colts won on the road in Indianapolis last season, he trash-talked the supporters. After the Eagles defeated the Super Bowl winners this season, he made fun of Chiefs fans by saying, “See ya!” Remember the time the arrogant coach bobbed his head and peered into a TV camera following a touchdown in a playoff game?
Funny, really, when the Eagles win.
when they’re not?
Fans of the Eagles can easily become enraged with Sirianni for his foolish behavior because of this. Additionally, it makes it simple for the other NFL fans to ridicule him on social media.
See you later! On your walk out, avoid getting struck by the door.
After possibly the worst postseason loss in possibly the worst last six weeks in club history, a frustrated Eagles fan threw his bucket onto the field, showering Sirianni with popcorn.
On Monday night, Sirianni got off lightly.
His job might not be in the cards for him. With the exception of somber glances in his suite and a lack of statements to the media, Sirianni is under pressure, and it’s unclear which way owner Jeffrey Lurie will go. When you observe the entire scene, it nearly seems absurd to think about making a change: In three seasons, Sirianni has made three trips to the playoffs, appeared in the Super Bowl, and won 67% of his games during the regular season.
However, Lurie’s demand goes beyond just three years. It is about everything that has transpired since the Eagles were 10-1 and leading the NFL on November 26. The regular season ended with three straight losses and six total. The Eagles’ 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Monday night’s NFC wild-card game guaranteed that significant changes are in store for the team.
There may be a reprieve for Sirianni. His employees will undoubtedly get a makeover.
Sean Desai, the defensive coordinator, was relieved of his duties in the last moments after taking the fall for the defense. The defense was only made worse by Matt Patricia. Brian Johnson, the offensive coordinator, was limited to calling the “tush push” on fourth-and-1.
Jalen Hurts went backward. After being mistreated, wide receiver A.J. Brown pouted and missed a playoff game due to an injury (Sirianni rested his starters in a pointless season finale). After Patricia placed Haason Reddick into pass coverage, he went from being a feared pass rusher with 16 sacks the previous season to 11 through 13 games this season and none over the final five games.
The Eagles were defeated by backup quarterbacks. They were defeated by inferior squads.
The Eagles’ confidence in Sirianni might have been the greatest loss.
Hurts responded, “I didn’t know he was going anyplace,” in response to the question of whether or not he wanted Sirianni back.
When Hurts was pressed repeatedly on Sirianni, his voice more closely resembled that of an AI quarterback following a preseason game.
“I have complete faith in every person in this place. It’s just a matter of us playing clean football, which is something we haven’t done,” he stated.
What a fitting recommendation.
For his part, Sirianni claimed he was simply “thinking about the lads,” not his employment situation.
It doesn’t help that there are a lot of excellent options available this summer, should Lurie decide to remove Sirianni. There is a bill Belichick available. It’s free for Mike Vrabel. It’s possible that Jim Harbaugh is itching to get back into the NFL.
However, during his tenure, Lurie has only employed four rookie NFL coaches: Sirianni, Doug Pederson, Andy Reid, and Chip Kelly. Lurie and general manager Howie Roseman are undoubtedly compiling names of unidentified or maybe undesired aides, based on historical data.
Perhaps one of those possible picks, or a brand-new, intriguing development, has a clearer understanding of why the Eagles fell apart. Sirianni is uncertain.
“The season’s body of work was good overall, but the last few weeks weren’t as good,” he remarked. “I think you can look at everything. The numbers can suggest one thing, but it wasn’t good enough in the last month of the season, right? If you look at the body of work in a lot of different things this season.”
Throughout the season, Hurts battled several injuries, including a shattered finger that interfered with his throwing ability and a bone bruise on his left knee that made it difficult for him to run.
After accepting a five-year, $255 million agreement in April that included a guaranteed $179.3 million, he will most likely return.
Hurts only showed glimmers of the explosive play that led the Eagles to the Super Bowl and made him the runner-up for NFL MVP the previous year. He obviously struggled to read defenses, especially blitzes, and gave up on trying to throw deep. He hardly ever threw the ball away because of his relentless desire to attempt to make a play, and that cost him when he took a safety against the Buccaneers.
His interceptions increased from six to fifteen, and he threw one more touchdown pass (23), in 17 games than he did in 15.
Hurts remarked, “I believe that various years call for different incarnations of a person, and I’ll just keep learning to be the greatest leader I can be for this team and for this company.”
NO COST AGENTS
Brandon Graham, the defensive end, would like to make a farewell tour return visit. Fletcher Cox, a defensive tackle, is also facing an uncertain future. With a lot of miles on them, both players are in their 30s. Three running backs are headed into free agency: D’Andre Swift, a 1,000-yard rusher; Quez Watkins, a wide receiver, might have completed his final throw for the Eagles.
KELCE’S END OF DAY
Jason Kelce, a center, is one player who will not be returning.
The first domino to fall in an offseason that will undoubtedly keep the transaction wire humming is Eagles center of gravity Kelce, who has informed teammates he won’t be returning for another season.
___
